Double-acting power-wrench



C. E. PENDLETYON.

DOUBLE ACTING POWER WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1919.

Patentd Sept. 21,1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

c. E. PENDLETON.

DOUBLE ACTING POWER WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1919.

1,353,417, PatentedSept. 21, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z- )))))))))))H]))J) H1111 H 1 1) l a (H [H H H H l((((((((((((((( 14 \wmtoz APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1919.

4. 1 a 4 h W 5 m hm ass a. m P m E m C h UNITED s'm'ras PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. PENDLETON, or 1mm, OKLAHOMA.

DOUBLE-ACTING POWER-WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Batnted' Sept, 21, 1920.

Application filed November 22, 1919. Serial Np. 339,888.

of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Double- Acting Power-Wrenches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved doubl acting power wrench, particularly adapted for taking off and putting on nuts and the like, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a very simple, eflicient and practical device of this kind, in which there is involved novel features of construction.

Another object of the invention is to pro- Vide a double acting wrench including a driven wrench member either end of which being adapted to unscrew and screw on a nut, or one end adapted to unscrew a nut while the other end is adapted to screw on a nut and vice'yersa, in combinationwith means for driving the wrench member and means carried by the casing of the wrench member for controlling said operating means;

\ A further object of the invention 1's to provide a wrench mechanism including a flexible connection with a source of power remote. from the wrench mechanism, and means in close position to the casing of the wrench mechanism and having a housed flexible connection to a clutching means ad jacent th e source of power, for controlling the same whereby the wrench mechanism may be operated in and out of the source of power.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a double acting wrench mechahism including a wrench member and means carried thereby so gearedto a driving element that when the driving element is at rest, said means on the wrench member will act as a lock in connection with the driving element, so that by manipulating the casing of the wrench mechanism, the wrench member may be used for loosening nuts which have become stuck or thread bound before applying the power to unscrew the nut.

This locking connection between the wrench member and the driving element when the driving element is at rest also enables the operator to manipulate the housing of the wrench mechanism, to impart a final turn gear with manually to the nut in order to thoroughly tighten the same. x

An additional object of the invention is to provide a flexible shaft connection between the source of power and thewrench mechanism so that when the source of power-is operated in one direction or be operated in either direction.-

Further, it is the aim to means for the flexible shaft connection be-, tween thesource of power and the wrench mechanism, and also a flexible housing means for the pull cord connection between an operating lever and the clutch mechanism, for moving the clutch in and out of gears v The invention. also aims to provide a wrench mechanism having driving gear-connections direct with a source of power in combination with means carried by the-casing or motor or source of power, for operating a driving element of the source of power in and out of gear with a driven member of the wrench mechanism.-

VVhile the design and construction 'at present illustrated and set forth is deemed preferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptible to changes, and the right to these changes is: claimed, provided they are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be here inafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view showing the improved wrench mechanism in elevation, and illus: trating the flexible shaft connection with a pulley, which is .drivenby a source of power such as a motor, through the medium of a belt connection.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the wrench mechanism and the flexible shaft and showing the pulley, which is driven by the source of power.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the wrench mechanism at right angles to the showing in Fig. 2. 1

ig. 4 is a sectional view on line4 4 of Fig. 3.- y

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailsectional'view the other; by a clutch (not shown) the flexible shaft may provide housing of "a portion of the flexible shaft. partied-53;

larly at the point where it connected to the driving pulley.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the wrench mechanism as applied direct to the source of power, which is adapted to be carried in.-the hand of the operator'and means carried by the hand hold adapted for operating the clutch to operate the source of power, such as a motor, in and out of gear with the wrench mechanism.

Referring more especially to the drawings 1 designates a conventional form of electrical motor, though not necessarily, for it is obvious that any other suitable power means may be employed for operating the mechanism, and 2 denotes a shaft which is mounted in suitable bearings in close position to the motor, and loosely mounted upon the shaft is a pulley This pulley is operatively connected to a pulley 4 ofthe motor shaft by means of the belt 5. One face'6 of the pulley 3 constitutes a friction clutch and keyed. by means of a feather 7 tothe shaft 2 is the hub 8 of a-movable friction clutch 9. A coil spring 10 is interposed between the loosed pulley 3 and the movable clutch member in order to hold the movable clutch member normally out of gear with the friction clutch pulley. The

larger end 11 of the shaft 2 is mounted in a tubular casing 12, which constitutes a bearing for the larger end 11 of said shaft. A sleeve 13 is connected by means of'threads or the like 14 to the casing or bearing 12.

- The larger end 11 of the shaft 2-has a reduced extension 14.

A wrench mechanism is provided and is adapted to be operated by means of the pulley 3, when the movable clutch member is movedinto engagement with the friction clutch face 6 of said pulley. The wrench mechanism comprises a hollow disk shaped housing 15, which houses aworm gear 16. The housing 15 comprises two parts, which are fastened together as shown'at 17 The 4 object of constructing the housing 15 in two parts is to permit the worm gear to be placed in the housing. Projecting from opposite sides of and forming integral connections with the two parts of the housing 13 are axially alined tubular extensions18 and 19 in bearings 20 of which a driven wrench member or shaft 21 is mounted. T he Worm gear 16 is mounted on and carried by not necessarilyli These extensions 22 are designed to fit correspondingly shaped opens ings 23 of suitable socket wrenches 24. The

socket wrenches '24 havehexagonal nut engaging openings 25, so that when the wrench,

shaft 21 is rotated in one direction or'the other, the socket wrenches will act to remove and apply nuts or. the like;

The housing or'casing 19 is provided with a tubular housing 26, which extends tangentially with relation to the disk shaped housing. Mounted in bearings 27 of the tubular housing 26 is a driving shaft 28, which is provided with a worm 29 meshing with the worm gear 16.

A flexible shaft 30 connectsthe extension 14 and the driving shaft 28. A portion of the flexible shaft comprises a plurality of sections 31 connected as at 32. One of the sections 31 is connected at 33 to the driving shaft 28, so that the movement may be imparted to the shaft 28. Anotherportion of the flexible shaft comprises a plurality of sections 34, which are connected asat 35. One of the sections-34 is connected'as at 36 to the extension 14 of the end 11 of the shaft 2, while a certain other section 34 is connected at 37 to one of the sections 31. It will be noted that the sections 34 are smaller than the sections 31, so that the portion of the flexible shaft which includes the smaller sections may more easily flex than the portion of the shaft which includes the sections 31. 34 which are connected at 32, 33, 35 and 37 havetheir connections so arranged with re spect to each other as to permit the various sections to flex and universally move in different directions, all the while the shaft is capable of rotating. A housing 38 preferably made up from a coil of springs incloses the smaller sections 34 of the flexible shaft, thereby constituting a bearing for incloses the housing 38. This housing 41 is constructed from a larger coil spring than the coil spring forming the. housing 38. This housing 41 forms a bearing for the housing 38, in which a flexibleportion of the housing 38 rotates. It will-be noted that the flexible Thevarious sections 31 and housing 41 incloses the larger section of the flexible shaft, and ,constitutes a bearing therefor and also means to hold the section 31 operatively in alinement. The larger flexible spring housing is connectedin any suitablemanner as at 42 to the end of the tubular housing 26.

A lever 43 ispivoted at 44 to the bearing casing'12 and is provided with forks 45.

whichstraddle'the-larger poltiQll/ll of the shaft .2, and engage the edge of the hub 8 of the movable friction clutch so that when the lever is tilted inthedirection of themrow,a,-,the friction clutchmember 9 will be moved tofric tionally'engage the clutch face of the pulley 3, thereby driving the shaft 2, which in turn operates the flexible shaft and also the shaft 28. The rotating of the shaft 28 also operates the worm 29 which imparts movement to the worm gear 16. It is obvious that by operating the motor in either direction, the wrench shaft 21 may be operated in either direction so as to remove and apply nuts through-the medium of the socket wrenches which may be carried by the ends of the wrench shaft 21. A pull cord or shaft 46 is connected to the lever 43 and passes through an'o ening 47 in the wall of the sleeve 13. his pull cord 'or shaft 46 is housed by means of a coil spring housing48, which lies against the larger coil spring housing 41. The coil spring housing 48 constitutes means to hold the l-pull cord in alinement and to permitit to easily operate,so as to' tilt the .lever 43.

YV hen the lever 43 is tilted the movable friction clutchmember '9 is actuated against the action of the coil spring 10. The coil spring housing 48 of the pull cord, at one end, is

arranged in a recess 50 of the inner part of the wall of the sleeve 13 which is provided with a shoulder 51. The other endof the coil spring housing 48 of the pull cord or shaft 46 is mounted in a recess of the outer portion of the wall of the housing or casing 26. at one of its ends. The pull cord or shaft at one end extends through an opening 52 atone end of the casing'26and is connected to an arm 53 of a lever 54, which is pivoted as at 55 to the casing 26. The end ortion of the casin 26 has a shoulder 56. n surrounding re ation to the larger spring coil housing-41 is a tubular covering 57 which may be constructed of any suitable pliable or flexible material, such as canvas or leather, or a composition of either so as to not only keep the dust from the spring housing, but also to act as a rotection for the various parts of the flexible shaft, and to hold them in operative relation, and fur- I thermore\ to permit the shaft to be easily handled by the operator. One end of the tubular covering is fitted over the shoulder 56 of theend of the casing 26 and is bound to the casing by means of a suitable Wrap ping of wire or the like as indicated at 58. The other end of the tubular covering-is fitted over the shoulder 51 and is likewise secured to the sleeve 13 by means of a wrapping of wire or the like as indicated at 59.

It is to be noted that when the lever 54 is rocked in the direction of the arrow 1) a pull action is imparted on the pull cord or shaft 46 thereby oscillating the lever 43 which will move the clutch in engagement with the friction clutch surface of the pulley thereby transmitting mot-ion to the flexible shaft.- It

wi l be observed that the source of power. '8 easily manipulated by the operator, who may hold the casing or housing 26 and posimove axially together.

thumb screw in place.

tion it for the purpose of applying and re- 'moving nuts and the like. It is obvious that by means of the wrench shaft or ele-. ment, one nut may-be screwed on and another nut removed and vice versa, it depending entirely upon the direction of rotation of the wrench shaft or element/21.

In Fig. 6, it will, be noted that the wrench mechanism housing or casing forms an integral part as at 60 with the asing 61 of a motor 61, preferably of the electrical type and Which carries a hand hold or handle 62 so that the motor of the wrench mechanism depending upon the length of the electrical connections between the motor and the can be moved from one place to another, it

source of current supply. In this-type of -capable of longitudinal movement axially through the motor, so that a friction clutch member 63 on one end of the shaft 61 may contact with the friction clutch member 64 which is carried by the shaft 65 so that when the motor shaft 61' is moved longi tudinally, the two friction clutch members 1 will'contact frictionally and cause revolu- .ble movement to the shaft 65. Inthis way,

by means of the worm 66, power/is transmitted' to the worm gear 161and,which in turn operates the wrench shaft 21. as in the construction hereinbefore described. Owing to the clutch members 63 and64-being in frictional contact-with each other, they eventually become considerabl, worn, and in order to take up for this wearya set screw h is threaded through a portion of the casing 60 so as to contact with theend ofthe shaft 65.

.I10r instance, by rotating the thumb screw it after backing the lock nut m, the shaft 65 may be moved l'ongitudi' nally, so as to position the clutch 64 closer to the clutch inember'63'so that but a very slight movement of the motor shaft 61 is necessary, to cause a transmission of power from the motor shaft 61 to the shaft 65.

After the thumb screw it has been set, the;; lock nut m may be tightened up to 'holdthe The thumb s;rew may be adjusted to move the shaft 65 longi tudinally so as to position the friction clutch memher 64, so that but a very infinitesimal spacernay be permitted to remain between the'two friction clutch members. Pivotally mounted at 71 on apart of the hand grip is a shaft actuator 72. 7 One end 73 of this actuator contacts with a the conical. end of the motor shaft 61 so that when the actuator 72 is rocked upon its pivot, the motor shaft 61 5 may be moved longitudinally. The othe r 'end of the actuator 72 terminates in an extension 7 4 which may be gripped by trical connections (not ,shown) with the:

motor. It is the design that bythe manipulation of the lever.70, the mechanism in the housing 68 may be operated so that through the medium of the electrical con? nections (not shown) with the motor, the motor may be stopped and started. The hand held 62 is provided with projecting lugs 67 to prevent the handof the operator from slipping. l I

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is z- 1. In a wrench mechanism including a wrench element, the combination with a casing for said element, a source of operating means remote from the wrench element including a clutch mechanism, a flexible connection between the operating means and the wrench element and being operatively controlled by the clutch mechanism, and means carried by the casing and having operative connection with the clutch mechanism or moving an element of said clutch mechanisminto and outof engagement with the operatlng means.

2. In a wrench mechanism including a wrench element, the combination with a casing for said element, a spurceof-operating means remote from the wrench element including a clutch mechanism, a flexible connection between the operating means and the wrench element and being operatively controlled by the clutch mechanism, means housedly mounted in and conformingto said v flexible connection and being operatively connected to theclutehmechanism for manipulating the same, and means cfar ried by the casing of the wrench element for o crating said lastmentioned means.

3, na wrench mechanism including a wrench element, the combination with a caslngvfor sa d element, a sourcecof operating means remote from, the wrench element includinga clutch v mechanism, a flexibleconnection between the operating means and. the Wrench element and being operatively controlled by the clutch mechanism, a flex1-- ble pull memberconforming', to: and being covering forthe two housings.

housedly mounted in the flexible connection for moving a clutch member of the clutch mechanism into and out of engagement with the operating means and a lever pivotally mounted on the casing and the wrench element for imparting pulling actions upon the pull member.

4. In a wrench mechanism including a wrench element, the combination with a c'as-i ing for the wrench element, of an operating mechanism remote from the element and including a clutch mechanism, a flexible shaft operatively connected to the operating means and being controlled by the clutch mechanism and having connectionswith the Wrench element, a flexible pull cord connected to the clutch mechanismv and conforming to the flexible shaft, and a lever mounted upon said casing and connected to the pull cord for manipulating a member of the clutch mechanism in and out of engage: ment with the operating means for opera-- tively controlling the flexible shaft.

5. In a wrench mechanism including a wrench element, the combination with a casing for the wrench element, of an. operatlng mechanism remote from the element and ,including a clutch mechanism, a flexible shaft operatively connected to the operatin means and being controlled by the clutc mechanism and having connections with the wrench element, a flexible pull cord ;connected to the clutch mechanism and conformioo ing to the flexible shaft, and a lever mount- 1 ble housing for the flexible shaft, a flexible housing for the pull cord carried by the housing of the flexible shaft, and a flexible 6. In a Wrench mechanism including a wrench element, the combination with a casing for thewrench element, of an operating mechanism remotelfrom the element and including a clutch mechalnism, a flexible shaft operatively connected Y to the operating .means' and being controlled by the clutch mechanism and having connections with the wrench element,- a flexible pull cord connected to'the clutch 'mechanism and conmounted.1upon said casing and connected to the pull cord for mani ulating; a member of the clutch=mechanism 1n and out of engage ment with the operatingmeans for opera! vtively controlling the flexible shaft, .said

flexible shaft comprising two parts of relativelydifferent proportions, each part com- "forming to the flexible shaft, and f a lever parts, a larger spring housing covering the first spring housing and the other part of said shaft, :1 spring housing for the pull cord, and a tubular flexible covering for the several housings.

7. In a wrench mechanism including a Wrench element, adapted to carry wrench devices at both ends, the combination with a casing, a manually gripped means connected to the *asing for supporting the same and holding the wrench element to its work, a worm gear on the wrench element and being housed in said casing. a driven member operativ'ely connected to the worm gear, an operating means having clutch controlled operative connections with the driven member, and means carried by the n'ianually gripped means for manually controlling said connections.

eluding a clutch mechanism, a connect-ion between the operating means and the wrench element and being operatively controlled by the clutch mechanism. means adjacent said connection and adapted to be manually gripped for holding the wrench element to its work. and means carried by the manually gripped means and operatively. con nected to the clutch mechanism for manipulating the same to control the operation of the wrench mechanism.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my signature.

CHARLES E. PENDLETON. 

